Bass House: The Ultimate Guide to EDM's Seismic Subgenre
Bass House has surged into the electronic dance music (EDM) landscape, a dynamic and potent subgenre characterised by its formidable basslines and relentless rhythms. It’s captured the imagination of both underground aficionados and mainstream festival-goers alike. This guide aims to provide a thorough understanding of Bass House, exploring its definition, historical origins, the influential artists and labels shaping its sound, current trends, related styles, notable tracks, and the key events where it thrives.
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Decoding Bass House: Definition and Characteristics
At its core, Bass House is a style of house music that gained significant traction in the early to mid-2010s. Its defining feature is the central role of a heavy, often distorted bassline, which takes precedence during the drop. This emphasis on bass, frequently overdriven to achieve a raw and gritty texture, distinguishes it from other house music subgenres. The rhythmic foundation of Bass House typically adheres to the four-on-the-floor beat common in house music, providing a consistent and danceable pulse.
The tempo of Bass House tracks generally falls within the range of 110 to 130 beats per minute (BPM), with many tracks settling around the 128 BPM mark. This tempo allows for both energetic dancing and the impactful delivery of the heavy basslines. Syncopated basslines, coupled with offbeat hi-hat and percussion patterns, contribute to the genre's characteristic groove and energy. A crucial aspect of Bass House is its incorporation of elements from other bass-heavy electronic music genres. Influences from dubstep, UK garage, and even riddim are frequently discernible, contributing to the genre's diverse sonic palette. This fusion results in tracks that possess the rhythmic drive of house music combined with the aggressive and often unpredictable nature of bass music. Sound design in Bass House often features distorted bass sounds, experimental synthesizers, and the creative manipulation of vocal samples to create new melodies and rhythms. The use of drops, where the bassline and beat momentarily cease before returning with full force, is also a common characteristic, creating moments of high energy and release.
The Genesis of the Groove: Origins and Historical Evolution
The emergence of Bass House in the mid-2010s was not an isolated event but rather the culmination of preceding trends within electronic music. While the genre solidified in this period, its roots can be traced back to the late 1990s and early 2000s. Artists like Basement Jaxx, with their 1999 album "Remedy", are considered early influences, blending funky house with UK garage and showcasing a shared appreciation for bass-heavy sounds. This period saw a broader movement of DJs and producers exploring a more refined lower-end in their music.
Several key genres played a significant role in shaping Bass House. UK garage and its faster, more intense offshoot, speed garage, contributed their rhythmic complexity and emphasis on bass. Dubstep, which gained prominence in the late 2000s and early 2010s, had a profound impact on Bass House, particularly in its use of wobble and growl bass sounds. Fidget house and electro house, known for their energetic and often distorted sounds, also served as important precursors, with their "wonky synths" and "sharp leads" paving the way for the more explosive drops of Bass House. In the early 2010s, the rise of bass-heavy ghetto house and EDM-infused future house further contributed to the sonic landscape from which Bass House emerged.
The development of Bass House also saw regional variations. In the United Kingdom, the genre often leaned towards a darker and deeper sound influenced by UK garage. Meanwhile, in Europe, particularly with projects like Hi-Lo (Oliver Heldens & Tchami), a more electro-influenced approach gained traction. The United States, on the other hand, became a significant source for a heavier, more dubstep-inspired style of Bass House. Since its emergence, the sound of Bass House has continued to evolve. Early tracks often featured a single, dominant bass pattern that filled the entire frequency spectrum during the drop. More recently, influenced by tech-house, the genre has seen a trend towards separating the bass pattern from the melody, allowing for more intricate and nuanced sound design.
Leading the Charge: Dominant Artists in the Bass House Scene
The Bass House scene has been shaped by a number of influential artists who have pushed its boundaries and popularised its sound. Early pioneers like Basement Jaxx and Joyryde are credited with laying the groundwork for the genre. Over the years, artists such as Jauz, Tchami, and Ephwurd have been at the forefront of its growing popularity. AC Slater is widely recognised as a key figure, often credited with coining the term "night bass" for his specific style and whose label has been instrumental in the genre's development. Jauz played a crucial role in bringing Bass House from the underground to the main stages of major music festivals.
According to Beatport's sales charts for 2024, the top-selling Bass House artists are:
Odd Mob
OMNOM
HYPERBEAM
Malaa
AC Slater
Tchami
Biscits
Bbyafricka
Gorgon City
Steve Angello
House Wub's list of the best Bass House DJs of 2024 highlights other prominent figures known for their performances and influence:
Knock2
Habstrakt
AC Slater
Cheyenne Giles
Michael Sparks
Beyond these lists, other notable artists who have significantly contributed to the Bass House sound include JOYRYDE, Ephwurd, Habstrakt, Tchami, Malaa, Chris Lorenzo, Taiki Nulight, Jaded, Low Steppa, Hi-Lo (Oliver Heldens & Tchami), Skrillex, Drezo, BIJOU, Dr. Fresch, Nostalgix, Curbi, Sikdope, Wax Motif, Moksi, Brohug, Destructo, and the collaborative project Fly With Us (AC Slater & Chris Lorenzo). The consistent presence of artists like AC Slater, Jauz, JOYRYDE, and Habstrakt over time underscores their lasting impact on the genre. The emergence of new names in the 2024 charts indicates a dynamic and evolving scene with fresh talent gaining recognition.
The Sound Carriers: Key Record Labels Driving Bass House
Record labels play a vital role in curating, promoting, and distributing Bass House music, shaping the genre's direction and introducing new talent. Several labels have become synonymous with the Bass House sound. Night Bass, founded by AC Slater, stands out as a leading force in the genre. Confession, Tchami's label, is known for pushing a heavier, bass-driven sound within the Bass House spectrum. Bite This!, Jauz's imprint, showcases high-energy, festival-ready Bass House tracks.
Other prominent labels that consistently release Bass House music include:
Night Bass Records
Confession Records
Box Of Cats
REALM Records
Dim Mak Records
Late Checkout
AETERNA RECORDS
FLY WITH US
HOOD POLITICS RECORDS
SLATER SOUNDS
BINGO BASS
THIS AIN'T BRISTOL
DND RECS
Bite This!
INSOMNIAC RECORDS
STMPD RCRDS
Big Beat Records
Armada Music
Musical Freedom
TINTED RECORDS
CREATE MUSIC GROUP
88RISING MUSIC
SUPERHUMAN MUSIC
FUNKSHWAY
EMPIRE DISTRIBUTION/REPUBLIC
SWEAT IT OUT
10:22PM/BODY HI
MALAA MUSIC LLC
NIGHTMODE
HOUSE CALL
MONSTERCAT
THE MYTH OF NYX
SPECTRUM (NL)
VOLPEVERSE
OCTOBER RECORDS
DARKROOM RECORDS
SOLOTOKO
FULL COLOUR RECORDS
SUEñOS GLOBALES, LLC
IN / ROTATION
TECHNE
RULES DON'T APPLY
HARD RECS
BODY HI
TOMORROWLAND MUSIC
BLACK BUTTER
HYSTERIA
BARONG FAMILY
FFRR
SPINNIN' RECORDS
MAD DECENT
BLACK LIZARD RECORDS
ROOM TWO RECORDINGS
CITY SLANG
SIZE RECORDS UK LTD
OWSLA/ATLANTIC
HELDEEP RECORDS
FUTURE HOUSE MUSIC
LIFE IS GØØD
DJ SNAKE MUSIC PRODUCTIONS LIMITED
HAU5TRAP
EMI
THE SPONGES
POSITIVA
TERMINAL UNDERGROUND
TRICK
DARKLIGHT RECORDINGS
ASTRALWERKS
CR2 RECORDS
HOUSE OF HOUSE RECORDS
LOBSTER BOY 3
SOUTH OF SATURN
TIGER RECORDS
REPOPULATE MARS
SEEING IS BELIEVING
MENTALO MUSIC
GENERATION HEX
HILOMATIK
UPRISE MUSIC
WHATS POPPIN
LONE ROMANTIC
ULTRA RECORDS, LLC
NEON STEVE
AXTONE RECORDS
MAU5TRAP
RETAIL RECORDS
Larger labels like Monstercat and Spinnin' Records also feature Bass House tracks in their releases. The presence of artist-run labels highlights the creative control and direction within the Bass House community. The inclusion of Bass House on more mainstream EDM labels indicates its growing acceptance and popularity within the broader electronic music market. The UKF channel has also played a significant role in establishing the genre through its "UKF Bass House" compilations.
Pulse of the Present: Current Trends and Popularity of Bass House
Bass House continues to experience increasing popularity within the electronic dance music scene. Its high-energy sound and danceable rhythms have made it a staple in both underground clubs and major music festivals. The genre's adaptability and the willingness of artists to experiment have contributed to its sustained relevance. Artists are increasingly incorporating influences from other electronic music styles, such as techno and UK bass, leading to new sonic explorations within the Bass House framework.
The top-selling Bass House tracks of 2024 on Beatport offer a glimpse into current popular sounds: "Get Busy" by Odd Mob and Sean Paul, "All Day, All Night" by HYPERBEAM, OMNOM, and Odd Mob, "Biggest Regret" by Bbyafricka and Gorgon City, "Killa" by Chris Avantgarde and Kevin de Vries, "Give You" by Odd Mob, "Done" by GENESI (ITA), "Skip" by Sebastian Ingrosso and Steve Angello, "The Weekend" by Anti Up, "I Am The One" by Biscits and TOBEHONEST, and "Dominator" by Biscits, Human Resource, and Max Mylo. These tracks showcase the diverse range within the genre, from more melodic approaches to heavier, bass-focused tracks. Bass House is recognised as a distinct genre on major platforms like Beatport, further solidifying its place in the electronic music landscape.